Julia Garrison
News Editor
In a 2021 video posted by the official YouTube channel for funk band Vulfpeck, the group’s frontman Jack Stratton discusses the “holy trinity” of rhythm sections that played many of the backing tracks for Aretha Franklin at the height of her career. In the video, Stratton dissects multiple songs from Franklin’s 1972 album, “Young, Gifted and Black,” praising one of its lead singles, “Rock Steady,” as possibly the “funkiest song ever recorded.”
The album in question was released in January 1972 by Atlantic Records, and was Franklin’s 18th studio album. The album peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album’s singles peaked on the pop charts, with “Day Dreaming” hitting as high as fifth on the pop charts and first on the R&B charts.
Stratton’s assessment of the legendary nature of the album’s backing band was certainly not off the mark; Franklin collaborated with a number of notable names in studio performance in the seventies.
The first contributor of note was Cornell Dupree: a guitarist who worked regularly with Joe Cocker and Donny Hathaway but also appeared on albums by James Brown, Mariah Carey, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Etta James, Chaka Khan, B.B. King, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Paul Simon and The Spinners. Donny Hathaway –– who notably often worked with Dupree –– was also featured on the album, playing the Hammond organ, piano and the Fender Rhodes.
Keyboardist Billy Preston was an extremely accomplished artist known both for his individual achievements and for his collaboration with other musicians. Preston, sometimes referred to as the “Fifth Beatle,” worked with The Beatles on their final album, “Let It Be,” and provided keyboard backing for their iconic 1969 rooftop concert in London. Preston is credited on both “Let It Be” and “Abbey Road.” Individually, Preston had two singles hit No. 1 on the U.S. charts –– “Will It Go ‘Round In Circles” and “Nothing From Nothing.”
Next was Chuck Rainey, who played bass guitar on almost all of Franklin’s tracks. Rainey worked with Steely Dan and Quincy Jones and also hails from Cleveland. In his collaborations with Steely Dan, he played bass on the songs “Aja,” “Pretzel Logic,” “Katy Lied,” “The Royal Scam” and “Gaucho.”
Lastly — but certainly not least –- is Bernard Purdie, who provided drums across the album. Known for his signature drumming style most commonly referred to as the “Purdie Shuffle,” Purdie has worked with artists such as Nina Simone, James Brown, Herbie Hancock and Al Green.
These musicians, when brought together, made an album filled with funk, rhythm and soul and paved the way for modern funk as we understand it today. Franklin’s artistry as a musician and singer, intertwined with the very talented rhythm section, make the album an icon of funk music.
